Sour Cream Coffee Cake and a Birthday Giveaway!

August 13, 2012

I can’t believe I’m writing this, but this week, Espresso and Cream turns 3! It’s amazing (and a little cringe-worthy) to look back at posts from three years ago and think about all the life that has been lived and documented on these pages in the past three years. When I started writing this little blog, I was getting ready to enter my senior year in college and unsure what I was going to do after graduation. I’ve since graduated, gone through a season of uncertainty with my career, landed a full time job, dated and married my husband, added a furry member to our family and eaten a lot of amazing food along the way. To all of you who have been reading, especially those who were reading when I didn’t think anyone was during those beginning months, thank you! Your e-mails, tweets and comments make blogging so much fun and I’ve made so many great friends along the way.

In celebration of three years of blogging, I’ve baked you a cake. A coffee cake to be exact. And what goes better with coffee cake than a $100 J. Crew gift card, right? It probably comes as a surprise to no one that I have an undying love for J. Crew, and as fall approaches I thought some of you might be looking to add a few new items to your wardrobe. The giveaway is open between now and Thursday, August 16th at 10 p.m. and I’ll be announcing the winner on Friday.You have two chances to enter:

1. Leave a comment below telling me what you’re looking forward to most about this fall.
2. Tweet about the giveaway (and leave a separate comment telling me that you Tweeted about it)

A week ago, Joe asked if I would mind making a coffee cake for him to have with breakfast sometime soon. I couldn’t remember the last time I made a coffee cake, and I don’t think there is a recipe on the site, so I was more than happy to oblige. Turns out, I found it incredibly hard to find a basic coffee cake recipe in any of the cookbooks I own. Eventually, I found this recipe from Ina Garten for her sour cream coffee cake. It’s a basic recipe, which is exactly what Joe requested, with a cinnamon sugar streusel in the center and atop a moist sour cream cake. I would make this cake again in a heartbeat, as a casual treat for Joe or to share with company. Though if it were up to me, I might stir some fresh raspberries into the batter for an extra kick.

The Barefoot Contessa’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake
From All Cakes Considered by Melissa Gray

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan. Set aside.
*Cream together the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment for 4 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
*Add the eggs, one at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream.
*In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Finish stirring with a spatula to be sure batter is completely mixed.
*For the streusel, place the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and butter in a bowl and pinch together with your fingers until it forms crumbs. Mix in the nuts, if desired.
*Spoon half the batter into the pan and spread it out with a spatula. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup streusel. Spoon the rest of the batter in the pan, spread it out and scatter the remaining streusel on top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
Madison’s Note: I didn’t have a 10-inch tube pan so I used a 9-inch deep-sided springform pan. I had to bake it for a little longer (maybe 70 to 75 minutes) and the center sunk a bit, but it still tasted great!

This Fall I am most looking forward to my wedding (yeay!) that will be in Central Florida late September. I am so excited to have found the love of my life! I know this will be a memorable year for both of us!

Michaelson5

Making pumpkin bars!

Justine Lorelle

Boots, rights, and pumpkin-flavored everything. Same things I look forward to every fall 😉

This post comes at a good time – I just created an entire list of the things I am looking forward to most this fall! Fall is by-far my absolute favorite season! Out of all of the things that I love about it, I think my very favorite is simply the clothing options – comfortable sweaters, jeans, boots (!) and dressy scarves. I love it!

http://littlefoodcourt.com/ Courtney

So excited about cozy sweaters and boots for fall! Happy blog birthday too, of course!

http://www.hungryhealthygirl.com/ kim@Hungryhealthygirl

I know if it’s from Ina, it’s got to be good and it looks amazing! I’m looking most forward to sweaters, jeans, boots, and pumpkin {of course}l. Happy 3 year anniversary!!

What I look forward to the most is baking fall treats and especially persimmon cookies. My family loves anything with pumpkin and spice and we love hot apple cider or wassilmommoscakes@gmail.com

Natty McGlynn

Morning Madison, Thanks for sharing yourself and your blog for 3 years now!

I would *love, love* to win this sweet giveaway from J. Crew. What I’m most looking forward to this fall is a sweet road-trip down the Pacific Coast Highway with my husband, and taking lots of hikes through the many National Parks in Oregon.

Fingers crossed,
Natalie McGlynn

Amanda O.

Pumpkin anything!

Rachbarnes

I’m sooooo excited for the cooler weather and wearing scarves!

Lindsay Adeyiga

So fun!! Would love to win this

I am most looking forward to walking the dog without sweating like crazy and all the fall colors and flavors!

Lindsay Adeyiga

Tweeted

Blaircurley

Fall baking, boots, sweaters and everything pumpkin!!!!!

Molly Adams

I am looking forward to being able to layer clothes and football!

Lindsey

I’m most looking forward to the cooler weather and beautiful leaf colors.

http://chipchiphooray.wordpress.com/ Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray

This fall, I’m most looking forward to starting grad school–buying notebooks and reading new books and just generally getting to be a student again. Hooray! 😀

Hilary

Congratulations on three years, that’s awesome!!

This fall I am looking forward to transferring to the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and starting my junior year and my path in their journalism school. It will be a fun new adventure that will hopefully lead me into the career path that I am hoping for! I have a lot ahead for me this fall and I can’t wait to get started!

The J. Crew gift card would be an execellent wardorbe addition for my new beginnings!

-Hilary

Retha Hase

that cake looks delicious! I’m looking forward to crisp fall days that are great for hiking and running! I really am looking forward to trading in my flip flops for boots – but not too soon tho as I don’t want to wish away summer!

http://chipchiphooray.wordpress.com/ Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray

And I tweeted. Happy blog birthday! And this cake looks deeeeelish. I love coffee cake.

Emily Milligan

I am looking forward to chilly days and nights, apple picking, playing in the leaves with my boys.

I am looking forward to chilly days and nights, apple picking, and playing in the leaves with my boys.

Kristin Graybeal

Looking forward to making hot soups again (it’s just not the same in the summer when it’s hot) and the crisp, clean chilly air of the Pacific NW! And visiting the local farms to pick out pumpkins, seeing the plants and trees transition, and visiting family for holidays. The list goes on… fall is probably my favorite season.

Happy Birthday Esspresso and Cream!! Apparently we share a birthday — I’m the big 2.5. today and I guess officially an adult as much as I try to fight it…

Congrats on all of your successes over the past 3 years!

This fall, I’m looking forward to 1. being a newlywed during football season so I can bring my hubby to watch the Dawgs play and sleep in the same hotel room without my rents giving us the stink-eye, 2. fall foliage, 3. cinnamon and nutmeg flavored everything, 4. apples, 5. boots and j.crew clothes {for real, I would say that without learning of this awesome giveaway :)}

P.S. one of our 4th of July guests made Ina’s cream cheese coffee cake and it was SO good – almost like a cross between cheese cake and coffee cake…I aint complainin’!

Jen

wearing cozy sweaters and drinking hot coffee!

caity g.

I’m excited for fall because of cooler weather and fall football games! Congrats on 3 years!

Lindsay K

I’m most looking forward to going on my yearly apple-picking trip at a nearby apple orchard. Fall is my favorite season, though, so I’m really looking forward to just about all the beautiful season has to offer!

Elizabeth

I am most looking forward to my wedding!!

Melissa J

Blazers, Boots, pumpkin spice lattes and cider!

http://twitter.com/JALOrganic Lindsay C. Moore

I tweeted about your giveaway @JALOrganic!

AWESOME birthday giveaway from @MadisonHofmeyer on Espresso and Cream today! J.Crew gift card just in time for fall…

AmandaD

I’m looking forward to new leather boots, leggings and football!

KMR

I’m looking forward to a new pair of riding boots!

Hanna Peterson

Crisp, cool air and Cyclone football!

http://piecesofjess.wordpress.com/ Jessica Laake

I’m looking forward to sweaters, pumpkin bars and football (just to name a few). Fall is my favorite season!!

Congrats on 3 years!

Hanna Peterson

Crisp, cool air and Cyclone football!

Katie R

Cooler temperatures and planning my wedding!

Elizabeth

I have some fab twitter friends who will be very pleased to see that tweet!

http://piecesofjess.wordpress.com/ Jessica Laake

Tweeted!

Heather McGregor

I love the fall so much!!! This year I am looking forward to cool temps and apple picking!!

Very cool! I am looking forward to cooler weather. Of course that won’t be here until November. But I can’t wait!!!

Shannon

Layering clothes and “fall baking” (aka anything with pumpkin!)!

Emily Rasmussen

Happy birthday E&C! I’m excited for harvest time so my hubby can make great wine – and to wear my Hunter Wellingtons when the rain starts.

Megan

Fall is my favorite season and I’m so excited for the leaves to change and for comfy layering clothes. Most of all I’m just ready for cooler weather because I have a tendency to sweat… a lot.

Mindy

Happy 3 years to you and your blog. I love reading your posts! I am most looking forward to drinking pumpkin pie spiced lattes this Fall! A cute J. Crew cardigan would look great with my latte in hand 😉

This fall I am looking forward to cooler temps. It has been so very hot and humid this summer. I was wilting.
I love the Fall clothing too and the football games.

Kristen

Pumpkins and winter squash!

Bettina

Happy 3rd Birthday!

I’m looking forward to my twins’ first birthday in October.

Ashley P

Apple picking- and all the yummy things you can make with the apples.

Carolynlb

Congratulations on the blog turning 3. It is one of my favorites and I feel like I “know” someone famous because I saw you on Rachael Ray !! For Fall, I am most looking forward to baking. While my summers get busy and temps rise I just do not have the time or desire, but when Fall rolls around I love lazy weekends and trying new recipes to bake. I would really like to be baking this Fall in a new J.Crew outfit! Ha. Have a great day!

Congrats Madison! I’m looking forward to going for long runs – I love the sound of crunching dry leaves

Christin Oien

Happy 3rd Birthday Espresso and Cream! I love the inspiration in your blog and the realness you present to your readers whether its about food, no fat talk, or fashion. This fall I am looking forward to crunching leaves, cool nights, sweatshirts, football, and fall parties!

Kristen B

Fall is my favorite season! I love college football, cider mills, and fall fashion. I am most looking forward to our trip to Europe to celebrate our first anniversary!

Jess Lokhorst

Cinnamon in everything!! Wrapped up in a scarf and sweater holding my beloved coffee by a morning campfire!

Happy Blog Birthday! It’s been so fun to read along your journey the past few years. This fall, I’m looking forward to college football (Go Gators!), lots of birthdays, our wedding anniversary and hopefully much COOLER weather. Thanks for the generous giveaway! I love j.Crew lots.

Danielle C.

I can not wait for Fall….because there is football, hot apple cider, pumpkins, pie, Apple Hill, wine, fall clothes and cuddle weekends.

Sarah

Happy birthday, Expresso and Creme! I am an avid reader and love everything from the recipes to your fashion! Every fall, I look forewarn to football, long sleeves, chili, and all things apple and pumpkin!

Courtney

Living in a desert-like climate, I’m looking forward to cooler temps. And, most of all pumpkin…yes, pumpkin everything!

Fall always makes me very nostalgic and I love everything about fall except the winter that comes after. I most look forward to the food and fashion, and also the beautiful scenery when the leaves change.

so fun…happy birthday! pumpkin, college football, and boots–and most everything else fall:)

katie

happy birthday! very excited for college football, sweater weather, and pumpkin everything.

Aeamathis

Chambray! And leopard!

Meghan

Williams Sonoma has this amazing pumpkin bread mix that I look forward to buying and eating every year! And of course football, gumbo and less humidity are more reasons to love fall!

Ka

Everything apple and pumpkin, less humidity, and my birthday!

manda

I have a birthday a week from today and this giveaway would make it extra special.

Melissa

I’m so excited for cooler weather and football season !!

Mandi

Cooler weather and pumpkin spiced lattes!

Stacy Lane

I am most looking forward to chilly weather; this summer has been SO HOT!

Stacy Lane

And I tweeted at you

Kate

One of my best friends is getting married this Fall and I can’t wait! The only thing that could make it better would be a new dress!

http://theavidappetite.com/ Rachel @ The Avid Appetite

Happy blog birthday!! What an exciting milestone It’s so fun to see how things change over time. This coffee cake looks unreal! As for fall? I can’t wait for cool breezes, sweaters, boots and pumpkin!

http://www.alextriesitout.com/ Alex Meyer

This fall, I’m looking forward to wearing boots again! I love boots of all types, but just can’t do it with this nasty Iowa weather. It’s too hot!

http://www.alextriesitout.com/ Alex Meyer

I also tweeted :).

Kelly

Just found your blog and am loving it – happy 3 years! I’m most looking forward to fall food, of course, and wearing tall boots with everything!

Stacey

Happy 3rd Birthday! How exciting to see how an idea has come to fruition for you! Fall is my favorite season. Every year I look forward to bulky sweaters, boots, caramel apples, apple orchards, and pumpkin carving.

Mandy Baker

What a great giveaway! I love EVERYTHING about fall in Michigan! The crisp air, cozy clothes, yummy warm drinks, beautiful colors, and my daughter’s first day of preschool. And maybe some new J Crew clothes

Erika

Happy 3rd birthday! I’m making this coffee cake tonight.

I can’t wait for fall! I got married last month, but work has been crazy for us both since the wedding, so we haven’t seen each other enough recently. So I’m looking forward to really enjoying our first months of marriage and getting away for a couple weekends together!

Amanda Thompson

FOOTBALL!!!!

clkeller

Starting my teaching career!

Alina

I’m looking forward to cold weather, cute clothes and Homecoming! I LOVE fall and I can’t wait till it comes!

Kara

I’m looking forward to my wedding

Chelsey L Altena

So much to be thankful for and look forward to this fall! I just got married and I can’t wait to spend our first fall (our favorite season) in our new home and new city! Also, I found out this morning that I will be teaching first grade in the fall… My first full time job!!

Giovanna

I’m looking forward to baking fall treats – using Pumpkin, Pecans, and Salted Caramel for the first time in MONTHS!!

http://www.thesweetslife.com/ natalie@thesweetslife

loved all your vacation pics–so glad you guys had fun!

i’m looking forward to trips to NYC & Napa, and my sister’s wedding!

http://twitter.com/sarah_vetter Sarah Vetter

I am most looking forward to pumpkin spice soy lattes from Starbucks! And boots.

Cellabella

I’m looking forward to the weather getting cooler and being able to bake more (since it’s too hot to turn an oven on right now 😉

Andrea

Happy Birthday E&C! I’m most excited to meet our new baby boy in October! Life as we know it will change

Happy Three Years! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for the last 1.5. It is so strange to think of fall right now, but I look forward to the cooler weather, beautiful foliage, and the fall-themed desserts.

Kristel

I am looking forward to lots and lots of fresh apples. I love going to the orchard to pick in the fall.

Hailee

As much as I LOVE summmer, I cant wait for fall and a regular schedule again!

Jess

After working for several years, I am looking forward to being a student again!

Lindsay

I’m looking forward the most to getting married this fall! Plus eating all things pumpkin…ALMOST equal excitement

Lindsay

I tweeted about the giveaway! @pinktoes218

Ashley

I am most looking forward to warm dinners and wearing sweaters!

Tiffany

I am looking forward to going back to school!

Laura Wifler

Boots and Pumpkin Spice Lattes! Happy Birthday and congratulations on three years of blogging! Thanks for the giveaway!

Kelsey

I am looking forward to the cooler weather! This summer has been way too HOT!

Michelle

I can’t wait to go apple picking with my family!!

http://twitter.com/etsetara tara

i’m looking forward to cooler weather and my youngest sister moving to town for college!

Happy birthday, E&C! Sending you birthday love from Boston! I’m most looking forward to going pumpkin picking with my 9 month old son this Fall. Bright orange pumpkins are the best background for baby photo shoots!

http://twitter.com/DessertForTwo Christina

I’m SO excited for fall to wear sweaters. I finally live in a climate that’s cold enough to wear them. Hooray!

I absolutely love fall! This is my senior year at Ohio State and my roommates and I created a fall bucket list! I’m most looking forward to football season, apple picking, carving pumpkins, and fall drinks from Starbucks

jjohnston

Iowa football! And, layering clothes and boots!

Abbie Brown

Looking forward to cooler morning runs!!

Emily N

I am looking forward to all things pumpkin!!

Stephanie

I can’t wait for an apple picking trip in Connecticut this fall

Meg Shamburger

I can’t wait to get married! We are getting married at the end of September and its sneaking up really fast!

Football, of course! I love to watch college and NFL football. I know you are a Gator so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for Urban Meyer. The “Urban Renewal” in Columbus, Ohio is going to be amazing. I am finally looking forward to Ohio State Football again!

Ivy

My favorite thing about fall? Watching ISU football games and cruising through campus. But now that I have a wedding to plan for next summer, I’m rather excited to continue working on that.

Ivy

I also tweeted about the giveaway! My handle is ivythepoison. Thanks!

Moira

I am looking forward to the cool weather, Halloween, changing colors, and new TV shows!!!

Amy J

Happy Blog Birthday! We are moving this weekend, so I am looking forward to many new adventures this fall! Also, my little girl is starting Kindergarten and my son will be in preschool, so that’ll be a fun time! Look forward to taking them to apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and bonfires wearing sweatshirts

Kaylie

I am looking forward to making apple pies and turnovers with fresh picked apples!

erin

the arrival of baby #2 in november! could use some new clothes after that!

Deb Vander Weide

I am looking forward to the trees turning beautiful colors!!

Sonya Jaswal

As weird as it sounds, I’m looking forward to going back to school!

http://www.facebook.com/brittany.adams.391 Brittany Adams

I am looking forward to coffee on the porch wearing my cardigans (maybe a j. crew cardigan!) over my pajamas! I also love colors of fall and can’t wait to take family picks with lots of leaves!

http://www.facebook.com/brittany.adams.391 Brittany Adams

brittanyadams
‏@2baadams

I hope I win the $100 J. Crew giveway! #happybirthdayespressoandcream

Claire

Im looking forward to layering clothing & pumpkin based foods, yum

Naina

I’m looking forward to hot chocolate, fall colors and setting up our new place with my fiance! happy blog birthday

Missy

I am looking forward to watching my 11 year old son play football!!

Erika

I’m looking forward to the beautiful weather, the leaves turning fall colors, and my 2 year wedding anniversary in October!

Elizabeth F

I’m looking forward to crisp, cool days, bright blue October skies, and curling up on the couch in a thick wool cardigan with a bowl of hot soup.

Danielle K.

I’m looking forward to celebrating my husband’s and my first autumn and hiking adventures together. We can’t wait for the colored sky of orange, red and some great football! SEC here we come! Plus getting to enjoy a cup of coffee in a cool crisp morning with the cutest nephew ever!

your cake rocks! that streusel topping is so tempting. my favorite part about fall is the sudden appearance of apples and cinnamon in everything!

http://twitter.com/karliejanel Karlie

i’m looking forward to jeans and sweatshirts by the backyard bonfire. and my first fall as a married woman with my sweet husband. i’m also excited for fall decorating.

http://twitter.com/karliejanel Karlie

just tweeted about you being the best blogger ever. thank you for being awesome

Abby Mansour

Pumpkin everything, crisp fall air, apple orchard dates with my dear husband, chunky sweaters, the leaves in their burnt orange, red and yellow glory…and the list goes on. Thank you for the recipe! I just made coffee cake this past week and can’t wait to try out your recipe next time. : )

Hannah

I’m looking forward to wearing khaki jackets!! I hope i win this giveaway!
By the way, thanks for the recipe!